There are no proposals to be put to the House.
Order of Business.
Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Dr. Woods): The Order of Business today shall be as follows: item 2, Comhairle Bill, 1999, Order for Second Stage and Second Stage and item 3, Illegal Immigrants (Trafficking) Bill, 1999, Order for Second Stage and Second Stage.
On the business proposed for today, does the Minister see any irony in the fact that one of the two items being considered today is a Bill to reduce and control immigration on the very day that the Institution of Engineers says its lack of qualified engineers will prevent the Government's national plan from being implemented and that a lack of qualified nurses and other specialists will prevent the Government's national breast screening programme from being implemented? Does the Minister see any irony in this?
There is no particular legislation today on the national plan. So far as the national plan is concerned, it is unprecedented. When the engineers and others have had an opportunity to look into it properly they will find there is much in it for them, and especially for engineers here.
Is the Minister aware that the Limerick city bypass is being held up because Limerick County Council cannot recruit—
The Limerick bypass has no relationship to the Order of Business. We are straying widely from the Order of Business.
—enough engineers to do the job on the existing plan?
We cannot debate the national plan or pre-empt the—
We do not need any of this immigrant guff that is circulating from the Fianna Fáil Party.
The same was said of the last plan and we achieved it. We got more than £8 billion.
Order, please. Let us have order and an orderly Order of Business.
Given that there are four sitting days after today's business concludes before the budget and only six sitting days after the budget, before the session closes, and I understand the Government Whip will be meeting with other Whips later today, will the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, who is clearly at sea this morning—
He cannot see the wood for the trees.
—indicate, in response to what the Taoiseach said yesterday, if the Government intends to have a debate on the Estimates and a debate on the national plan and, if so, when?
This is a matter for the Whips. A debate on the national plan will be held as soon as it is possible to make arrangements for it. Obviously it will be an opportunity for a major debate and it will be included in the debate on the budget. We are in the happy position where the Estimates are published well in advance of the budget and the national plan for the next six to seven years is published in advance of the budget. That is something the Leader of the Labour Party has sought for years and we have achieved that. Any further discussions can be arranged between the Whips.
May I draw to the attention of the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources that the national plan is not the private property of one particular party, nor has it been agreed by the people who have to sign it, that is, Brussels. Before it is sent to the Commission this House should have an opportunity to debate it and to draw to the attention of the citizens of the State who will have to fund 90% of its provisions, its many defects. Is the Minister in a position today or will the Minister of State, the Government Chief Whip, be in a position to indicate to the various parties when we will have a debate on the national plan? It is not, I respectfully suggest, adequate to say it can be rolled in with the budget. That is an evasion of parliamentary responsibility. This plan, which the Minister has said is for the next seven years, will be debated only once.
As the Deputy realises we have a full agenda from now until Christmas. The Whips can meet to discuss the matter and see whether it is possible to fit it in before—
There are two brief issues I wish to raise.
The Minister is not finished.
Does the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform or the Taoiseach intend to make a statement to the House on the major systems failure that occurred in a particular trial which collapsed and will not now go ahead? In May 1998 I was informed a group had been set up to look at the disabled drivers and disabled passengers tax concessions regulations. In November 1999—
The Deputy cannot make a statement. Will she please ask a question?
Can the Minister say whether there will be any change before the budget in the concessions particularly for blind passengers who wish to be considered under the scheme? The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has been sitting on this for a year and half.
The first question is not in order. The second question is not in order—
It is.
—on the Order of Business.
In relation to the disability and the various proposals which have been put forward, these will be considered in the context of the budget.
The committee has not reported yet after a year and a half.
Notwithstanding that the various bodies have made their representations very clearly to the Minister for Finance and they will be considered in the context of the budget.
With regard to the extraordinarily entitled Comhairle Bill, 1999, will the Minister indicate if there is an English title for this legislation and, if not, may I remind him—
The Deputy should pursue that matter after the Order of Business.
On the Order of Business the House has been invited to consider something that is absurd. There is a Bill entitled Comhairle na nEalaíon and a Bill to establish Comhairle na n-Ospidéal, but this Bill, entitled Comhairle Bill, 1999—
The Deputy may raise this matter when addressing the Bill itself. We will reach it very shortly.
On a point of order, we are being asked to agree to the Order of Business before we discuss the content. We seek clarification on this matter.
The Deputy is not being asked to agree to anything.
I take your point, Sir, however—
It is a matter of agreeing to the Order of Business.
The Government has a responsibility to describe legislation properly. If the purpose of the Bill is to establish Comhairle as a body it should be described as such.
We cannot use the Order of Business to describe or explain legislation. All Deputies will shortly have an opportunity to set out their views.
Will you, Sir, or the Minister advise me of the English title of this legislation?
Will the Minister explain the delay in introducing the Marine Emergency Services Bill?
It is extraordinary that Deputy Higgins, who regularly speaks as Gaeilge in the House, should ask for an English title for the Comhairle Bill.
The Minister is bluffing.
Most of us understand what it means.
The Minister is bluffing.
(Interruptions).
Order. I call on the Deputy and the Minister to resume their seats. That matter will have to wait until the debate on the Bill.
Mr. Hayes
The Government has had three weeks to consider the recommendations in the Law Reform Commission report on gazumping. When will it introduce legislation following the recommendations so that a measure of consumer protection can be introduced to the first time buyer's market? There are only three recommendations in the report.
The Minister is considering the report of the Law Reform Commission. With regard to Deputy John Bruton's question on the Marine Emergency Services Bill, the heads of the Bill are being prepared in the Department and should be finalised later this year.
Yesterday the Taoiseach con firmed that the Government is considering the establishment of a special division of the High Court to deal with planning matters. In what form will the proposal be introduced to the House? Will it be by way of amendment to the Planning and Development Bill, which is currently under consideration, or will it be by way of separate legislation? Which Minister will introduce the legislation?
These matters are being considered by the Cabinet sub-committee on public infrastructure.
Which Minister will introduce the legislation?
The Attorney General will be involved.
The real Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
Did the Attorney General not bring the proposal to the Government?
The matter is under consideration, but the Government decision approving the publication of the Planning and Development Bill authorised the Minster for the Environment and Local Government to take steps to ensure that there be a sufficient review of procedures and that infrastructural cases are dealt with speedily by the High Court.
Yet again there are newspapers reports today about the future of the Air Corps. Serious concerns have been voiced by Air Corps staff because of the lack of planning and investment in the service. Similar concerns have also been expressed with regard to the Naval Service. Will the Minister confirm if the White Paper will definitely be published this year? It would appear that the fate of these services rests on the White Paper since no decisions have been made. We praise these services when they do their work effectively, as they did this week and when there was a tragic accident earlier this year, but we refuse to invest in either service.
Two ships have been commissioned in the lifetime of the Government. That is unheard of.
When will the White Paper be published?
I understand the White Paper is expected before Christmas.
Given the indifferent performance of so many Ministers, will the Minster confirm if there is any truth in the rumour about a Cabinet reshuffle?
That is not a matter for the Order of Business.
As the Tony Cascarino of the Cabinet, does the Minster consider he will survive the reshuffle? In the context of the pay talks for a new social contract, when will the Minimum Pay Bill be published?
In the near future, this year or next year?
Possibly before the end of this year.
The Minister is at sea.
That is the expected date. With regard to the other matter raised by the Deputy I regret to tell him that he will not be involved.
Could I ask the Minister, who is like Tony Cascarino with the teeth in, if the heads of the National Parks and Historic Buildings Bill have been circulated? Will it cater for the fact that there is now no independent auditing system for—
That is not appropriate on the Order of Business.
I understand that the Bill will require considerably more work. It is not possible to indicate at this stage when it will be published.
Tá suim agam sa Disabilities Bill go mór mhór ó bhí rún agam ar an athló agus níor thug tú cead dom é a ardú mar go raibh díospóireacht ag Fine Gael ar an ábhar. Ach ní raibh aon am agam páirt a ghlacadh sa díospóireacht sin.
That is not a matter for the Order of Business.
Tá sé an-tábhachtach. Tá suim agam sa Disabilities Bill dá bharr sin comh maith. An féidir leis an Aire a rá an mbeidh an Bille againn go luath?
Work is in progress in the Department on the Bill. The aim is to introduce it as soon as possible. It is not possible at this stage to indicate the date.
Next year is a leap year. The Government will have one more day at its disposal.
I had intended to inquire about the same Bill. The report of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities recommends an amendment to the Constitution. That is its first recommendation and it comes before its recommendation that there should be disabilities legislation. Does the Government intend to amend the Constitution to ensure such legislation would be effective in terms of safeguarding the rights of people with disabilities?
The report is being considered in the context of the Bill.